Over the past few years the world has witnessed major developments which have vastly altered the international scene. One of these is the deep crisis that has afflicted the international economic order as we have known it up to now the crisis that was reflected in the break up of the international monetary and financial system and in the emergence of such disruptive forces as inflation and recession in virtually all the industrialised countries of the West. Another major development has been the emergence of the developing countries themselves as a significant force on the world stage a phenomenon that is evidenced by the greater assertiveness, greater self-awareness and the greater capacity for action of these countries. The concerted action of the oil producing countries, themselves developing countries, in respect of the price of oil is a manifestation of these changed circumstances. These developments have served to create a new awareness of the need for change, of the inadequacy of prevailing structures, and, above all, of the key importance of the development issue as a factor of international relations.